Disembedded Ideas- The media lift out religious ideas from their original context and moves them to different time and space. E.g. Church TV brings church allows people to experience faith in their homes.

Davie- Belief without belonging

Many express their belief in God without going to church. A change in attitudes- people see going to church as a choice not an obligation

Only 6%go to church but a significant number of others say they are religious.

Lyotard- Post Christian society

Today people are less accepting of the idea that one form of knowledge could have the absolute truth.

People refuse the authority of the church and it explains why people don't commit to one religion and instead buy into multiple.

Evaluation

Feminists

E.g. Saudi Arabia- women are tied to Islam and can't shop around for their ideal religion.

Religion is patriarchal- In some societies women don't have freedom to choose or shape their identity.

Functionalists

Parsons- Too much choice undermines social meaning of religion.

Religion unites people and there is little evidence of pick 'n' mix mentality.

Collective Worship is functionally useful- it gives people an identity and a sense of belonging.

Interpretivists

The 10 Commandments have significance to many people.

They argue that collective worship isn't necessary.

Marxists

Teaching religion in alternative ways undermines the role of religion as a opium of the masses.